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cent. of those examined. This percentage is about the
same as that for the previous year. Of the samples
examined by Dr. Hassall in 1854-56, more than one
half were reported against. In 1877, the first year
in which the returns under the Act of 1875 were
tabulated, the proportion was 19.2. It would seem,
therefore, that some progress is being made, though
not very quickly, in reducing the amount of adulteration;
and there is no doubt that its character is much
less injurious than formerly.
At the time of Dr. Hassall's examinations the adulterants
employed were in a large proportion of cases
dangerous to health; now, if the public are cheated
by the mixture of water with milk or chicory with
coffee, they are not poisoned by copper in their pickles
or sulphuric acid in their spirits.
Milk continues to be the chief subject of analysis,
and the proportion of samples reported against is about
one fifth of the whole number examined. In the
Metropolis, however, the proportion is still larger,
amounting to about 26 per cent. On a former occasion
we gave the grounds for a calculation that
Londoners are paying between £70,000 and £80,000
a year for water sold under the name of milk, and we
are inclined to think that the estimate was by no
means excessive. We find that the Public Analyst
for Plumstead calculates that in that single district
the milkmen receive between £7,000 and £8,000 tor
water, while the fines for adulteration imposed on
them collectively amount to about £100 annually.
The sale of butterine in place of butter seems to
be increasing. We do not find in the reports of the
analyses any mention of ingredients injurious to health,
but inquiries on this point are being made by a Committee
of the New York Senate with regard to the